Multipath system comprising collapsible transport containers

Abstract

The standardized transport containers 5 of a system 101 for providing consumer goods, in particular food, are constructed from standardized components 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, which are used as reusable components. The components are preferably wall-like and are detachably connected to adjacent components. The components 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 circulate in the system 101, partly assembled with other reusable components to form transport containers 5, and partly as unassembled reusable components 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The application relates to a system for the provision of consumer goods, in particular foodstuffs, comprising: at least one consumer station; and a central picking station for picking goods from ordered baskets. Furthermore, the application relates to a process for the provision of consumer goods, in particular foodstuffs, comprising the following steps: (a) transfer of data (b) for assembling a basket from a variety of goods from the consumer station to a picking station; (b) transfer of control data (c) to a container warehouse for selecting a suitable transport container for the ordered basket. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Food products are generally sold to end consumers through retail outlets. The selection of goods is usually made by the consumer in a retail store.

[0003] In online retail, consumers order electronically. The ordered goods are either shipped separately or assembled by the online retailer and then shipped in a single package. Shipping the goods separately involves increased packaging and postage costs. Furthermore, shipping multiple packages for a single order / shopping cart is not environmentally friendly. This problem can be solved by using an automated picking station to collect the items for an order / shopping cart. The assembled goods are then packed in one package and shipped as a single unit.

[0004] However, this system also results in high packaging costs, especially since package sizes can vary considerably for food orders. Furthermore, the packaging from the picked shopping basket ends up as residual waste for the customer. Therefore, this solution also needs improvement from an environmental perspective.

[0005] Conventional reusable systems, on the other hand, are not used in retail sectors where, for example in the food industry, shopping baskets of different sizes are assembled, because different sizes of reusable containers would be required to transport the picked goods. This would result in enormous storage costs and space requirements, as well as significant logistical effort for handling the transport containers within the system.

[0006] EP 2 525 309 A1 features a system for providing food to end consumers with several decentralized consumer stations, a central picking station, a central warehouse, shopping baskets and a decentralized collection station.

[0007] EP 2 910 484 A1 describes a connecting element for the detachable assembly of planar elements, such as the bottom and side walls of containers, boxes and the like. TASK OF INVENTION

[0008] Based on this, the object of the present invention is to provide an environmentally friendly system and method for the provision of consumer goods, in particular food. TECHNICAL SOLUTION

[0009] This problem is solved by a system and a method for providing consumer goods, in particular foodstuffs, according to claim 1 and claim 7 respectively. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are set out in the features of the dependent claims.

[0010] The system according to the invention for providing consumer goods, in particular food, comprises: at least one consumer station; and a central picking station for picking goods from ordered shopping baskets. The system also comprises a plurality of transport containers, wherein the transport containers are constructed from standardized components and can be disassembled / detached from one another.

[0011] The invention is based on the idea of ​​providing a system with transport containers assembled from standardized, reusable components. Starting with an order for a shopping basket, the components are assembled into a transport container. The components of the transport container can be selected before assembly so that the size of the container corresponds to the space required to transport the goods in the shopping basket. For example, a base section can be combined with wall sections of varying heights to provide transport containers with different volumes.

[0012] The reusable system also offers an environmentally friendly solution. Furthermore, the components are easier to clean than rigid transport containers. The standardized components will typically be wall-like, and therefore easy to handle, parts. Disassembling the transport containers before cleaning reduces the number of hard-to-reach corners, etc.

[0013] Another advantage lies in the simpler and space-saving storage of the standardized components compared to storing assembled and possibly differently sized transport containers.

[0014] Furthermore, the individual components are easily replaceable if, for example, they are damaged or heavily soiled.

[0015] The reusable containers and their components circulate in a closed-loop material cycle until they are removed from the system. This allows the container components to be reused many times, thus preventing the generation of packaging waste. The containers are standardized and designed for multiple uses within the system.

[0016] For identification purposes, the reusable containers or components can have a marking, e.g. in the form of an RFID chip, a barcode, ID codes, etc. In this way, the container or component can be tracked and, for example, its frequency of use can be recorded.

[0017] The term "consumer station" is to be understood in a broad sense within the scope of the invention. It need not be an enclosed space, but simply the station to which the picking station delivers the filled and picked containers. This could be a private household, but also, for example, an area of ​​a retail store.

[0018] The components are preferably wall elements that form the base, wall and / or lid parts of the transport container.

[0019] In one embodiment of the invention, the components have connecting ports that can be connected to the connecting ports of an adjacent component to form a transport container. In particular, the connections are detachable.

[0020] The connection points can be designed to create a friction-fit, force-fit and / or form-fit connection.

[0021] The connection terminals are specifically designed for creating a plug connection and / or a snap-fit ​​connection. The connections may be lockable.

[0022] It is also possible to integrate magnetic elements into at least some of the container components. These can be used to connect the components, but also for handling the transport containers.

[0023] The central picking station may have a data processing unit for recording orders from a shopping cart at the consumer station.

[0024] The picking station has, in particular, at least one picking unit for assembling the goods of an ordered shopping cart into one of the transport containers.

[0025] The picking station preferably includes a receiving unit for used transport containers and / or their components, which are returned to the picking station from the consumer stations. The receiving unit acts as an empty container receiving point for the picking station. Consumers can also return packaging material, for example, in the transport containers.

[0026] The receiving unit can include at least one disassembly unit for dismantling the transport containers returned from the consumer stations to the picking station. The disassembly unit can be spatially connected to the receiving unit or separate from it.

[0027] The receiving unit may, for example, also include facilities for inspecting the transport containers or their components.

[0028] Disassembly, as well as the storage of the components and the assembly, can preferably be automated.

[0029] The picking station may have at least one washing / sterilizing unit for washing and / or sterilizing components of the transport containers that have been transported back to the picking station from the consumer stations and disassembled.

[0030] The inventive method for providing consumer goods, in particular foodstuffs, comprises the following steps: a) transferring data for assembling a shopping basket from a multitude of goods from the consumer station to a picking station; b) transferring control data to a container storage system for selecting a suitable transport container for the ordered shopping basket; c) assembling the suitable container from standardized components stored in the container storage system; and d) assembling the goods of the ordered shopping basket into the transport container in a picking unit of the picking station.

[0031] Consumer stations are, for example, internet-enabled devices (mobile phones, computers) that at least have an input unit and a display, allowing users to both access product offerings and place orders. The products offered can be presented appropriately, for example, by indicating the brand or by showing a packaged product unit. In particular, the system features numerous consumer stations and a data exchange connection between the consumer stations and the central picking station for transmitting picking orders.

[0032] Orders can be placed online, for example. With this type of order, individual customer preferences can be recorded, and suggestions for shopping cart contents can be made for subsequent purchases. The process can be largely automated. Furthermore, online sales offer well-known advantages, namely the simple and cost-effective delivery of advertising, consumer tips, etc., especially in a targeted manner based on customer preferences. Costs can also be saved, as retail stores and their associated services are eliminated, and the goods do not need to be elaborately packaged and presented. However, this method is not limited to any one specific type of order.

[0033] The process can, as a further step, include the transfer of the transport container provided by the picking unit to a delivery unit for delivery to a consumer station specified by the order.

[0034] The process can include, as a further step, the disassembly of a transport container, transferred from the consumer station back to the picking station, into individual (standardized) components. This can take place in a disassembly station, which may be equipped with special tools to separate the components from one another.

[0035] The process can include, as a further step, the transfer of the components of the disassembled transport containers to a washing / sterilizing unit for washing and / or sterilizing the transport container. This step is necessary in the food sector, among other reasons, for hygienic reasons.

[0036] The process can include, as a further step, the storage of the components of the disassembled transport containers in a container storage facility.

[0037] The reusable transport containers and their components, into which they can be disassembled, are standardized. The size of the transport container can be adjusted to an order. In particular, a container of suitable size is automatically provided from the container warehouse when a corresponding control file, generated based on the order, is received. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0038] Further features and advantages of the invention will become clear from the following description with reference to the accompanying figures. These show: Figure 1 a schematic representation of an embodiment of a system according to the invention for providing food; Figure 2 a detailed section of the system from the Figure 1 ; Figure 3a transport container used in connection with the systems in an assembled state; and Figure 4 a transport container used in connection with the systems, in a disassembled state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EXECUTION EXAMPLE

[0039] The Figure 1 Figure 1 schematically shows a system 101 according to the invention for providing consumer goods, in particular food. The system 101 has a central picking station 102 and at least one decentralized consumer station 103, but preferably a plurality of consumer stations.

[0040] The central picking station 102 is, in particular, a (largely) automated logistics system that assembles shopping baskets for end consumers according to orders / customer requests. To assemble the goods belonging to a shopping basket / order, the picking unit 124 draws from an attached warehouse 128 containing pre-packaged goods. In the context of the invention, a shopping basket is understood to be one or more products belonging to an order. The goods belonging to a shopping basket are placed in a transport container 5, as described below, and delivered in the transport container 5.

[0041] Between the picking station 102 and the preferably multiple consumer stations (of which one consumer station 103 is shown here by way of example), an exchange of goods and information takes place. The exchange of goods is accomplished by means of transport containers 5 according to the invention, which circulate between the consumer stations 103 and the central picking station 102, wherein the transport containers 5 are assembled and filled with a product in a first section of the cycle, and are largely empty and / or disassembled into individual components in a second section of the cycle.

[0042] Transport between stations 102 and 103 can be carried out using vehicles. A transport container 5, loaded with products from a shopping basket, is transported to a consumer station 103 (arrow L). There, the transport container is emptied and returned as empty packaging to picking station 102 (arrow R). Optionally, the transport container can already be disassembled into individual components for the return journey.

[0043] The transport of the transport containers or their components within the picking station 102 can be carried out, among other things, via conveyor belts or similar means. Information exchange preferably takes place via electronic data exchange using a communication system 104. The communication system 104 can include wireless connections (e.g., WLAN, mobile communication) and / or connections via data lines. The communication system also includes transmitting and receiving stations.

[0044] The picking station 102 essentially comprises an empty container receiving unit 126 for receiving the empty or disassembled transport containers 5, a washing / sterilizing unit 127 for washing the empty transport containers 5 or their components, a storage unit 121 for storing the components of the disassembled transport containers 5, a picking unit 124, and a goods warehouse 128. From the picking unit 124, transport containers 5 filled with goods are transferred to a delivery unit 125 and from there transported to the consumer station 103 assigned to the order.

[0045] Within the scope of the invention, the term "consumer station" need not refer to a spatially localized unit. Thus, a consumer station can comprise, on the one hand, a delivery address or delivery location, and on the other hand, for example, a mobile phone from which orders are placed.

[0046] In the Figure 2Further details of the picking station 102 of the system 101 according to the invention are shown.

[0047] Picking station 102 has a data processing unit 20. Data processing unit 20 performs at least the following tasks. A catalog of orderable products is stored in data processing unit 20, from which a user can select products at consumer station 3. The online offer is symbolized by the arrow marked with the letter a. The product range and presentation can be adapted to the individual consumer based on information provided by the end consumer or derived from the end consumer's previous purchasing behavior.

[0048] After selecting one or more products, the user places an order, preferably electronically, from consumer station 103, indicated by the arrow marked with the letter b. This order b is recorded by data processing unit 20 and processed as an order to create a shopping cart. Payment processing can be carried out in a familiar manner, such as in internet sales systems (online shops).

[0049] The data processing unit 20 sends control data or commands directly or indirectly to the warehouse 121 with the stored transport container components (arrow c) and the picking unit 124 (arrow d), according to the order.

[0050] The picking station 102 also has a delivery unit 125 for delivering loaded transport containers 5 to the respective consumer stations 103. The special feature of this system 101 is that the goods of an order (shopping cart) are in special transport containers 5 (see figure). Fig. 3 , 4 ) collected and transported in these from the delivery unit 125 to the respective consumer station 103.

[0051] The standardized transport containers 5 of the system 101 are, according to the invention, made of standardized components 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 (see Figure 1). Fig. 3 , 4 ), which are used as reusable components. Components 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 circulate in system 101, partly assembled with other reusable components to form transport containers 5, partly as unassembled reusable components 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55.

[0052] Thus, at a consumer station 103, after the transport container 5 has been emptied, it can be disassembled and the individual components 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 transported back to the picking unit 102, specifically to a receiving unit 126 for empty transport containers 5. Alternatively, the transport container 5 can also be transported to the receiving unit 126 for empty transport containers 5 in an assembled state. However, the transport container 5 is disassembled at the latest before it, or its components 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, is stored in a container storage area 121. Only when a specific container 5 is needed in the picking unit 124 is it assembled from the appropriate components 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55. In this way, the space required for storing reusable transport containers 5 is significantly reduced.

[0053] Before storage, the transport container 5 can also be washed and / or sterilized in a washing / sterilizing unit 127. This process preferably also takes place after the container 5 has been disassembled into its individual components 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55. Cleaning separate bottom, wall, and, if applicable, lid parts 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 is considerably easier and more thorough than cleaning assembled containers 5.

[0054] As indicated by arrow L of the Figure 1 and 2 As indicated, an assembled and equipped transport container 5 (as in connection with the Figure 3 , 4 The goods are delivered (as described) to a consumer station 103 (arrow L). The consumer removes the ordered goods from the transport container 5. The transport container 5, either assembled or in individual components, is then returned to the picking station 102 (arrow R).

[0055] The picking station has a receiving unit 126 for receiving used transport containers 5 and / or their components 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, which have been transported back from the consumer stations 103 to the picking station 102. This receiving unit can be equipped with a disassembly and / or dismantling station 1260, in which transport containers 5 that have not yet been disassembled are dismantled into individual components 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55. As indicated by arrow T3, the components 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 are transferred from the receiving unit 126 to the washing / sterilizing unit 127. There, the components 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 are washed and / or sterilized. As indicated by arrow T4, the washed components 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 are subsequently stored in component storage 121. If required, depending on the type of control data c, a transport container 5 is assembled from suitable components 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55.For assembly, the component storage facility 121 has an assembly station 1210. As indicated by arrow T1, the assembled transport container 5 enters the picking unit 124. There, according to the control data d, the goods of an order are assembled and placed in the transport container 5 that is appropriate for the order (with regard to space requirements).

[0056] Arrow T2 indicates that the fully loaded transport container 5 is transported to the delivery unit 125 and from there to the corresponding consumer station 103.

[0057] The Figure 3 and 4 Figure 1 shows an example of a transport container 5, as used in the system 101 according to the invention, in the assembled and in the disassembled / disassembled state.

[0058] The Figure 3Figure 1 shows a transport container 5, consisting of a base 50, four wall sections 51, 52, 53, 54, and optionally a lid 55. The components 50, 51, 52, 53, 54 are assembled to form a basic container. For example, the components 50, 51, 52, 53, 54 can be connected to each other via plug connectors.

[0059] The cover part 55 is removed in this example. The two wall parts 51 and 53 have plug connectors 512a, 512b,... and 532a, 532b,... respectively (these are shown as sockets for simplicity). The cover part 55 has corresponding complementary plug connectors 552a, 552b,... To ensure sufficient stability of the plug connections, these can be equipped with suitable locking devices and / or detent mechanisms.

[0060] In the Figure 4The components base part 50 and two of the wall parts 51, 54 are shown schematically and by way of example. The base part 50 has plug connectors 500a, 500b, 500c,... along its edge area, which, when assembled, engage in a plug-in or snap-fit ​​connection with corresponding complementary plug connectors 540a, 540b, 540c,... or 510a, 510b, 510c,... of the wall parts 54 and 51, respectively. The wall parts 54 can have further plug connectors 541, 541b,... along the edge facing the adjacent wall part 51 for connecting complementary plug connectors 541a, 541b,... of the adjacent wall part 51.

[0061] Depending on which station or between which stations the transport container 5 is located in system 101, it is either in an assembled or disassembled state.

[0062] In particular, container 5 is a standardized container assembled from reusable components, meaning that at least groups of containers are identical in construction. Furthermore, the components 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, and 55 of container 5 are standardized, meaning that at least groups of components are identical in construction. Due to the modular design of container 5, containers of varying sizes can be assembled from standard components. For example, system 101 can have side walls 51, 52, 53, and 54 of different heights, so that a container 5 can be provided with a standardized base 50 and, depending on the space required for transporting an order, with a suitable wall height.

[0063] System 101 is therefore environmentally friendly and flexible in terms of both storage and handling of the transport containers.

Claims

1. System (101) for providing consumer goods, in particular foodstuffs, comprising: at least one consumer station (103); and a central picking station (102) for picking goods from ordered shopping baskets, wherein the system (1) comprises a plurality of transport containers (5) for transporting the goods of the shopping basket, and the central picking station (102) has a data processing unit (20) for recording orders for a shopping basket from the consumer station (103), and the central picking station (102) has at least one picking unit (124) for assembling the ordered shopping basket in one of the transport containers (5), and the picking station (102) has a receiving unit (126) for receiving used transport containers (5) and / or their components (50, 51, 52, 53, 54) transported back from the consumer stations (103) back to the picking station (102), characterized in that the receiving unit (126) has at least one dismantling unit (1260) for collapsing the transport containers (5) returned by the consumer stations (103) to the picking station (102), the receiving unit (126) has at least one dismantling unit (1260) for dismantling the transport containers (5) transported back from the consumer stations (103) to the picking station (102), wherein the transport containers (5) are constructed from standardized components (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55) and can be automatically collapsed into these components ( 51, 52, 53, 54, 55) by the dismantling unit (1260), and wherein the system comprises a container storage facility (121) which is configured to the automated storage of the components (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55) of the collapsed transport containers 5, and the container storage facility (121) has an assembly station (1210) which is configured to the automated assembly of suitable and stored components into a transport container, wherein the components (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55) are automatically selected prior to assembly based on the shopping basket order so that the size of the transport container (5) corresponds to the space required to transport the goods in the shopping basket; and wherein the consumer stations (103) are formed to receive at least one of the filled transport containers.

2. System (101) according to claim 1, characterized in that the components (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55) comprise wall elements forming the base, wall and / or lid parts of the transport container (5).

3. System (101) according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the components (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55) comprise connecting ports (500a, 500b, 500c, ...; 511a, 511b, ...; 512a, 512b, ...; 532a, 532b, ...; 540a, 540b, ...; 541a, 541b, ...; 552a, 552b, ...) which can be connected to the connection terminals of an adjacent component.

4. System (101) according to claim 3, characterized in that the connection terminals (500a, 500b, 500c, ...; 511a, 511b, ...; 512a, 512b, ...; 532a, 532b, ...; 540a, 540b, ...; 541a, 541b, ...; 552a, 552b, ...) are configured to make a friction-locked, force-locked and / or form-locked connection.

5. System (101) according to one of the previous claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the connection terminals (500a, 500b, 500c, ...; 511a, 511b, ...; 512a, 512b, ...; 532a, 532b, ...; 540a, 540b, ...; 541a, 541b, ...; 552a, 552b, ...) are configured to make a plug connection and / or a snap-fit connection.

6. System (101) according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the picking station (102) comprises at least one washing / sterilization unit (127) for washing and / or sterilizing components (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55) of the transport container (5) transported back from the consumer stations (103) to the picking station (102) and collapsed.

7. Method for providing consumer goods, in particular foodstuffs, by means of a system according to claims 1 to 6, comprising the following steps: a) transmission of data (b) for compiling a shopping basket from a plurality of goods from the consumer station (103) to a picking station (102); and b) transmission of control data (c) to a container warehouse (121) for the automated selection of components (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55) of a transport container (5) based on an order for the shopping basket; characterized by the steps: c) automated assembly, based on the control data c, of the appropriate transport container (5) from standardized components (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55) stored in the container warehouse (121); d) compiling the goods from the ordered shopping basket in the transport container (5) in a picking unit (124) of the picking station (102); e) delivery of the transport container (5) to a consumer station (103) configured to receive a transport container (5); and f) collapsing the transport container (5) transported back from the consumer station (103) to the picking station (102) in a disassembly unit (1260).

8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the method comprises a further step of transferring the transport container (5) provided by the picking unit (124) to a delivery unit (125) for delivery to a consumer station (103) specified by the order.

9. Method according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the method comprises as a further step the automated collapse of a transport container (5) transferred back from the consumer station (103) to the picking station (102) into separate components (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55).

10. Method according to one of claims 9, characterized in that the method comprises as a further step the transfer of the components (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55) of the transport container (5) collapsed in the disassembly and / or collapsing station (1260) to a washing / sterilization unit (127) for washing and / or sterilizing the transport container (5).

11. Method according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the method comprises as a further step the automated storage of the components (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55) of the collapsed transport containers (5) in the container storage (121).

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